Takahashi's family is safe following earthquake

Takahashi's family is safe following earthquake

TEMPE, Ariz. -- A native of Tokyo with a wife and two children home in Japan, Angels pitcher Hisanori Takahashi was initially shocked by the massive earthquake that hit Japan on Friday and then relieved to discover that his family was safe.

This report came from Takahashi's translator, Yoichi Terada, whose family also was not harmed by the devastation in their homeland.

"We talked to Hisanori this morning and Yoichi, his translator," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "Fortunately, their families weren't close to where it hit.

2010 Spring Training - null

Sights & Sounds

Spring Training Info

"This is their livelihood and guys take it serious. But there are things more important."

Takahashi and his wife were on the phone, video chatting via Skype, on Thursday night when the picture began to distort. The pitcher was aware of something strange happening, and it turned out to be the 8.9 magnitude quake.

"Fortunately, my family is fine because we're in a little different area," he said through Terada's translation. "A lot of bad things. This morning, I checked the Internet and saw the video. It was horrible. I called them again, and they're fine."

As news and visuals of a tsunami rolled it, Angels players sat at their lockers, iPads in their hands, tracking the devastation. Scioscia spoke with his wife, Anne, by phone to make sure she wasn't staying in their second residence in Newport Beach, Calif., which was beginning to feel the residual effects of the tsunami.

"I'm a little nervous," Scioscia said. "We have a home in Newport Beach. I told her to get out of there. It's scary."

After pitching for 10 years for the Yomiuri Giants, where he was part of three Japanese championship teams, Takahashi signed with the New York Mets and pitched capably for them in 2010 in a variety of roles.

Signing a two-year, $8 million free-agent contract with the Angels in December, he has pitched three scoreless innings in Cactus League play, allowing three hits while striking out two batters.